Actor Maulik Pancholy didn't always want to talk about his Asian-American heritage. As a Northwestern University theater undergraduate, he tried to distance himself from his culture. However, after graduation, when he went to Los Angeles, the casting producers were eager to find a way to use "the brown person" to play the Indian part.
He demonstrates what the producers asked for: "Can you do the accent?" "Could you make your eyes a little bit bigger?" "Could you do that little head wobble thing you guys do?" The Yale School of Drama graduate transmutes as he talks, becoming a wide-eyed, head rolling cartoon who speaks in an accented high-pitched voice.

Now Pancholy uses his career to talk about his cultural heritage and how far Hollywood has come in offering diverse characters. Pancholy will be the keynote speaker at the NACE 2015 Conference & Expo, Tuesday, June 2, opening ceremony.

Born in 1974 in Kissimmee, Florida, Pancholy received a Screen Actors Guild award for his part as Jonathan, Alec Baldwin's personal assistant in "30 Rock." He has been the voice of Baljeet on Disney's "Phineas and Ferb" and of Sanjay in Nickelodeon's "Sanjay and Craig."

Pancholy was named to President Barack Obama's Advisory Commission on Asian-Americans and Pacific Islanders in 2014. He was named one of Out Magazine's 100 most influential gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender people in 2013.

Lindsey Pollak knows Millennials. Her blog offers them advice, and gives information on this group to university recruiters and career services professionals. She also serves as the spokesperson for The Hartford's "MyTomorrow" educational campaign directed at Millennials and their employers through social media and live events.

She will be the Wednesday morning keynote speaker at NACE15. Pollak will share her insights on leadership and what that means for up and comers, based on her new book Being the Boss: New Rules for the Next Generation of Leaders.

Pollak was named to “Best People to Follow on Twitter” and is on Mashable's list of best non-fiction authors. Her blog was named to the "Top 100 Websites for Your Career" by Forbes. Her areas of expertise include marketing to and managing Millennials, succeeding in a multigenerational workplace, personal branding, and career development.

Pollak wrote two New York Times best sellers, Becoming the Boss: New Rules for the Next Generation of Leaders and Getting From College to Career: Your Essential Guide to Succeeding in the Real World. She's the chair of the Cosmopolitan magazine Millennial advisory board and an official ambassador for LinkedIn. Pollak is also the board chair of She's the First, a nonprofit organization that sponsors the education of girls in developing countries to help them graduate from high school.

Pollak is a graduate of Yale University and is based in New York City.

On Thursday, June 4, Studley addresses the Department of Education’s (DOE) role in public policy issues and offers insights into current policy impacting the profession.

Studley's insights are informed by rich experience in her higher education, advocacy, and public service. She served as deputy and acting general counsel of the DOE in the Clinton Administration from 1993-99. In March 2010, Secretary Duncan appointed her to the National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity (NACIQI), which she chaired in 2012-13. Her federal service also includes membership on the Jacob Javits Fellowship Commission and serving as special assistant to HEW Secretary Patricia Roberts Harris in the Carter Administration. She also was president and CEO of Public Advocates, a San Francisco-based civil rights advocacy group.

In addition, Studley was president of Skidmore College, associate dean and lecturer in law at Yale Law School, and executive director of the National Association for Law Placement. She has served as board member and treasurer of the American Association of Colleges and Universities; vice chair of The Annapolis Group; scholar in residence at the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching; and as a policy committee member with the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities, Campus Compact, and the New York State Council of Independent Colleges and Universities.

She earned her bachelor’s degree from Barnard College and her Juris Doctor from Harvard Law School.

Embrace Challenge With Military Veteran and Paralympian Bradley Snyder

Retired U.S. Navy Lt. Brad Snyder is a two-time Paralympic Gold Medalist and Silver Medalist in swimming. Ironically, Snyder won one of his gold medals at the London 2012 Paralympic Games on the one-year anniversary of the IED explosion in Afghanistan that cost him his vision, shattered his eardrum, and lacerated his face.

While serving in Afghanistan, Snyder stepped on a bomb as he tried to help other victims. He spent three weeks in intensive care and five weeks in recovery, using his fierce spirit and tenacity to put his life back together, when even seemingly small tasks seemed daunting. On Friday, June 5, Snyder shares his story—the trials he faced on the battlefield, in competition, and in life. He recounts how “all these things that used to be no problem are suddenly really challenging,” noting that “cooking is a challenge, dressing and color matching are a challenge,” and even “getting the right amount of toothpaste on the toothbrush, because I couldn’t see it” posed hurdles.

Snyder has dedicated himself to the study and application of virtue in all aspects of life to eliminate perceived limitations. Aiming to set a positive example, Snyder shares his insights and inspirations to help others embrace challenge, conquer fear, and achieve happiness.